Wrapping machine



De- 3, P. BURKE EMI.

WRAPPING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet l-l Filed 'OG. T19, 1937 y@ yw u Dec. i3,

P. BURKE "Er AL `WRAPPING MACHINE 2 Il) vm n .HKMNMHI \\m m E .lm \Q 4 f\ Fl'ed Oct. .'19, 1937 `Patented Dec. 3, 1940 uNrrepv stares,

PATENT OFFICE WRAPPIN G MACHINE York Application'October 19, 1937; Serial N0.-169,822

2 Claims.

Our present invention relates to wrappingrnachines of the type adapted to apply a band, wrapper or label to objects of generally cylindrical conformation.

It is frequently desired to apply a label to, or to encircle with a band orA wrapper',` the curved surface of suchobjects as containers, cans, bottles, rolls of paper or'textiles or other objects Whose conformation is generally cylindrical. It is an object of our present invention to provide a machine which will automatically perform this desirable operation in a simple and efficient manner at a high rate of speed.

It is a further object of our invention to provide means for applying stripes of adhesive material to the curvedsurface of a cylindrical object,v conveying the adhesive bearing object to a supply of wrappers, labels or the like and causing a `wrapperor label to be adhesively secured to the object.`

It is a further object of our invention to provide means for the successive application of a plurality. of bands, wrappersV or labels to the curved surface of a cylindrical object.

Other and further objects of our invention will b-ecome apparent from a' reading of the following descriptionwhich, taken Lin` connection with the accompanying drawings, sets forth a p-re` ferred but not necessarily the only embodiment of our invention. Theembodiment of our invention herein described is particularlyl adapted for the application of wrappers to rolls of toilet tissue and contemplates the application of stripesk of paste to the curved surface of such rolls for `the purpose of securing the Wrappers thereto. It will be understood that our invention may be employed to wrap, band or label cylindricalobjects in general and that adhesive material of any desired type may beused therein and/therefore, that the following description is to be taken inr an explanatory rather than in a limiting sense.

The machine disclosed can be used toapply a label covering a portion only of the cylindrical surface or to apply a wrapper covering the entire cylindrical surface, or to apply rst an insert and then a wrapper. If the wrapper be transparent, the insert may function as a label. In order tosimplify the terminology of the claimsthe word Wrapper, unless restricted by the context, shall be taken to mean either a sheet covering a vportion only of the cylindrical surface or a sheet completely Wrapping `the cylindrical surface. The word insert `shall be taken to mean a*4 supplementary sheet enclosed bya- 'wrapper` whichrsheetmay, in some cases, function as f a conventional lab-el.

In the drawings; y f

Fig.v l is a. side elevation of 'a machine embodying our'` invention;

Fig. 2 isa topl plan view. of the same; 5 Fig. 3 is 'a diagrarrnnaticillustration of the 0peration of our invention;

Fig. his I ai fur-ther diagrammatic illustration of the same; 1:0V

Fig. 5 is a section along the line 5-5 of Fig.` 1;

Figfis asection-along'the line 6--6 of Fig. l;

Fig.V 7 is adiagrammatic illustration lof the operation'l cfa modified form `of our invention; and

Figs.- B'andSilluStrateone form of wrapping which'may be applied by the form of our invention illustrated in Fig. 7. n

The machine disclosed comprises a roll supply station A; a pasteapplying station B, a wrapping station4 C and` a drying and discharging station D.

At station Arol1s.'-I, which are to be wrapped, are individually depositedl in pockets II of a feed wheel I2. Thewheel I2 is driven at a speed commensurate with the capacity of the remainder of the machine, by means to be hereinafter describedyand serves-to feed the rolls mato the machine at such intervals as to avoid interference in the wrapping off.` successive rolls. The rolls I0 may be supplied-to `the feed wheel I2 by hand or by any other suitable means such as a gravity chute I3. Thevpockets Il are cut away as at I4to insure the discharge of the rolls ltherefrom.

Therolls Iii are discharged from the wheel I2 y35 upon a table lisup-ported in a suitable manner upon amain frame I6 andfare automatically positioned under parallel feed belts I'I` which are continuously driveniin the direction of the arrow infFg. l.

A motorvM- issuitably supported in the main frame I6 and through the medium of pulleys I8 and vI9 land a-belt .20; imparts rotation to a shaftv 2| mounted in` suitable bearings upon the main frame- I6. Asprocket wheel 22 is mounted for 45 rotationwithnthe shaft 2|` and through the mediumof a sprocket chain 23 and Wheel 24 mparts rotation to a shaitl` mounted insuitable bearings 26 carriedbyA supports 21. Sheaves or pulleys128v are mounted fori rotation with the .50 shaft 25Aand servev to support and drive the endless belts I 'I.` Similar'v sheaves or pulleys 29 are mounted forrotation with a `shaft 30 carried in bearingsSImounted upon supports 32 at the oppositeendof theama'chine;Y The belts I'l areconducted around the pulleys 29 and serve to impart rotation to the shaft 3l).

The belts I1 are supported at such a height above the table I5 that the lower reaches I1 thereof will bear upon the rolls I9 as they are discharged upon the table by the feed Wheel I2. The rolls I9 are thus continuously rolled through the stations B, C and D.

If so desired, a suitable belt tightener may be associated with the belts I1 in order to insure adequate contact between the belts and the rolls Il] as they progress through the machine. Accordingly, a, two armed lever 33 is pivoted upon a suitable support 34. One arm of the lever 33 carries a weighted roller 35 which' bears `upon the lower reaches I1 of the beltsA I1. The other arm of the lever 33 carries a counterweight 36 which may be adjusted therealong to vary the eiiect of the weighted roller 35 upon the belts I1.Y

At station B the table I5 is provided with an opening 3l (Fig. 5) of a Width somewhat greater than the altitude of the cylindrical roll III.A `Within the opening 31 are located'the upper horizontal reaches of endless pastebelts 38. The belts 38 are guided over pulleys 39 and are soflocated that their upper surfaces lie approximately within the plane of the upper surface of table I5. The belts 38 are further guided over pulleys 4U ro-tatably mounted upon the main frame I6 and driven pulleys 4I mounted for rotation with a shaft 42.

The lower horizontal reaches of the belts 38 are passed over a paste applying device Which deposits a nlm of paste upon the outer surfaces ofthe belts. Y The paste applying device comprises a container 43 and -a roller 44 which dips into a supply 45 of paste Within the container. The upper surface of the roller-44 is maintained in contact with the outer surfaces of the belts 38. The roller 44 is rotatably connected with the shaft 42 by means of sprockets 46 and 41 and a sprocket chain 48. A doctor blade 49 may be provided to remove excess paste from the outer surfaces of the belts 38, While additional doctor blades 50-may be provided to remove any paste which may inadvertently be deposited upon the vertical edges of the belts 38. The belts 38 may be maintained under suitable tension by any desired means as, for examplathe spring operated belt tightener indicated at 5I.

The shaft 42 is driven from the shaft 38 by the following means: `A sprocket 52 is mounted for rotation with the shaft 38 and through a sprocket chain 53 imparts rotation to a sprocket 54 and shaft 55 to which the sprocket 54 is fixed. Also, fixed to the shaft 55 is a pinion 56 which meshes with a similar pinion 51 fixed upon the shaft 42. The belts 38 may thu-s be driven at such a speed as to insure the'presentation of fresh paste bearing surfaces to each of therolls I9 which are passed through the paste applying station.

Means are provided to accurately control the circumferential extent and location of the paste stripes applied to the rolls Ill. For this purpose, guard plates 58 and 59 are mounted uponthe table I5 overlying portions of the opening 31 and the belts 38.'v The plates 58 and 59 are provided with flanges -69 having slots 6| therein. Studs 62 are receivedin the slots 6I and may beloosened to permit relative as Well as joint adjustment of the plates 58 and 59. The relative adjustment of the plates 58 and- 59 is availed of K to vary the extent vof the paste bearing belts through the machine. Plates 58 and 59 of various sizes may be provided if so desired for variations beyond the range of the studs and slots shown. Thus, a relatively small spa-ce may be Ileft between the plates 58 and 59 and the exposed portions of the belts 39 will apply stripes of paste of relatively small peripheral extent upon the rolls I9. The plates 58 and 59 may be moved farther apart for the application of stripes of greater peripheral extent and this adjustment may be carried to such a point that the paste stripes will completely encircle the rolls I0. The joint adjustment of plates 58 and 59 serves to vary the horizontal location of the exposed portions 'of belts 38. Thus, the distance through which the rolls II! must be rolled from the paste applying station B to the wrapping station C may be so adjusted that the paste stripes applied at station B will be caused to accurately register in desired relationship with the station C.l

. Guides 63 may be provided for maintaining the rolls I9 in proper alignment as they pass through the paste applying station. The guides 63 comprise elongated flat bars supported upon brackets 54 which are in turn secured by means such as studs 65 to the table I5. Slots 66 may be provided in the horizontal portions of the brackets 64 to permit relative adjustment of the guides 63 for cooperation With rolls I8 of various widths. The guides 63 are preferably flared as at B1 to embrace the wheel I2 thus assuring accurate entry of the rolls I0 into the paste applying station.

The feed wheel I2 may be driven from a sprocket, fixed to the shaft 55, through a sprocket chain 88 and a sprocket 69 arranged to drive a gear box 10. The gear box 10 contains suitable gearing to produce rotation of a sprocket 1I which through a sprocket chain 12 and sprocket 13 serves to rotate the wheel I2. The speed of rotation of the wheel I2 may be predetermined by the arrangement of gears within the gear box 10.

The rolls II),'to which the stripes of. paste have been applied, are progressed over the guard plate 59 and an intervening portion of table I5 to the Wrapping station C. At this station the paste stripes are caused to contact a wrapper and continued rolling motion of the roll IIJ will cause such wrapper to be Wound upon the cylindrical surface of the roll. For lthe purpose of illustration, we have shown an embodiment wherein Wrappers of a width substantially greater than that of the rolls I9 are caused to completely encircle the rolls and wherein such wrappers overlap at their ends. It will be understood that bands of a width equal to or less than that of the rolls may be similarly applied and that labels or inserts of any widthl which do not encircle the rolls I0 may also be applied by apparatus constructed according to our invention.

. A supply of wrappers 14,' comprising a stack of superimposed separate sheets of paper or other suitable material, is maintained at a substantially constant level by the following mechanism: The supply 14 is supported upon a plate 15, which is in turn supported for vertical movement by a bar 16 slidably guided in bearings 11 and 18. The lower end `of bar 16 is formed as a rack 19 meshing with a pinion 80 fixed upon a shaft 8l rotatably mounted in suitable bearings upon the main frame I6. A pinion 82, also fixed upon shaft 8I,'rneshes With a pinion 83 xed mounted' a roller 93.

upon astub shaft A84 'rotatably mounted'ina suitl` able bearing upon the mainframe |61" Alsorxed upon thestu'b vshaft 8N isaf ratchet wheel 85.

Ai'detent opivotedfupon th'emain frame-|3^ engagesthe teeth of the ratchet 85 and pre-` The link-88 Vmay be--supportedand guided-byan' eye 89 pivotally` supported upon-the main frame-|61 Atits'other end thelinkl 88 ispiv otally connected toan iarm 90 r`lixedupon a'rock upon"` the' rock' shaft `l9 I and one end' thereof`A is formed: as a" yoke withinl which" is" rotatably The roller" 93A projects,` through' a suitable openingin the tableIS', into a positionto .beengaged and .depressed by each of l the. rolls.` Illpassing through the machine. An adjustablecounterweight 94 is mounted upon theother. armofrleverfBZ'and serves to return the-parts 81, 88,90, 9|, 92 and v93 to their initial position after each operation.

Depression of the roller 93 by a-.roll I0 passingthereover` imparts a clockwise. rotation to the. y shaft` 9| and arm 90.

The link 88 is therefore drawn to the leftv as viewed-in Fig. 1 carrying with it thepawl 81 which, in turn, imparts a step of rotation tothe ratchet wheel 85. This movement of ratchet wheel is transmitted through gears 83, 82, 80 and rack 19 to the plate 15 and produces vertically upward movement thereof. The pitch of the teeth upon ratchet wheel B5 andthe ratio of gears '.83 and 82 may be soselected that each` depression of the roller 93 will resultin a.

verticalmovement ofthe wrapper supply 14 eX- actlyequalto the thickness of a single'sheet of the Wrapping material constituting the supply 14. Hence, as each successive sheet of material is removed 4from the supply 14, a compensatory elevation .ofthe supply will occur and the' upper surface ofthe supply will be maintained at a con` stantlevel. l

The table .I5'is cutaway along the line 95 and is recessed as at 96.. A detachable plate 91 is secured to the table I5 and' serves to cover a portionofthe'recess 98." The plate 91 is notched as at 98to .provide clearancefor'the paste stripesborne -bythe krolls'Il.` It will be'understood'that then'otch'es 98 willbe aligned with the paste belts 38 'andth'at substitute platesf91 may be provided for use'when the position or `number of belts 38 is materiallyA changed. The construction just de-y scribed avoids the--deposition of pastevuponthe table' I5 which would occur `if the table vwere to extend throughout its width to `the edge 95..

A separatorf99, 99 is provided to insure the picking up of a single sheet of wrapping material by'eachfof thepaste bearing rolls I0. The separatorcomprisestwo L-shaped members 99 of thin resilient metal;` One arm` of each of the L- shaped members y extends lon-gitudinally of the path of the rolls |0. and liesnear the outer edge of such path. These arms are secured by any convenient means to the table I5 or to the plate 91 and are curved `upwardly as seen in Fig. 1 and as indicated `diagrammatically,in Figs. 3 and 4. The other vvarms ofthe members 99 extendtoward each othertransversely'lof the path of the rolls` The rock shaft 9|V extends' across the"machine andissupportedl for rotationiu suitablebearings: Au two `arrnedlever-BZ is iixedl normallylie just overthealeadingl edge 1-I 00 'of the; sheets-:forming thesupplyf 14a While it is apre; ferrec'i-tofform' the separator-Iv 99 ,f 99 lintwo; parts,` asshown;itfwi1lbe obvious that a singlelU.-'shaped` part -may be used ifV so desired;` I'heoperation` of@ the separator,"V abovefdescribed, wilLbe set formi-hereinafter;

Itnhas been foundthat the rollingf; of thev rolls; I0.v overfth'e upper` surface of the supply,` 14 has a tendency to disarrange the stackof: sheets.` forming .the supply;` It l is essential to maintain the leading Aedges |00 of.' such sheets iny accurate vertical` alignment with each other and withfthe edge of the separator 99,99. To.' this end; we lprovdeapins. IOI 4which-bear with' substantial pressure upon the upper surface ofthe supply 14. These-y pins IOI arelocatedrnear the trailing-.edgesvIDZ. of the sheets and invery close proximityf to the.- marginalv edges |03 thereof. Thepins IIlI :aremounted upon spring arms |04 which fare, in turn, mounted upon the main frame. I6.- Threaded studs |05 mounted upon the frame I6 .andawingrnuts |06 are provided to `exert variable` pressure'upon the arms A |04 and pinsIOI.

Bysuitable adjustment of the wing .nuts |06, the i pins IOI may be. caused Vto bear upon the supplyv 14. with' pressure sufficient .to .hold the sheets forming. the supply in accuratesuperimposed relationship.

VVli'ena roll I0 is passedover the supply 14j theleadingedge ,|00y ofthe uppermost sheet will be .picked iup by the paste stripes upon the rol1,' as vwillbemorefully described hereinafter.r The' continuedrolling movement of the roll I0 will' cause the sheet "to bey wrapped around the roll andtlieleading edge |00 will become engaged by tldeb'elts` IT. The wrapping of the sheet around" the. roll "IIT will then be sufficiently complete to force the marginal'edges .|03 out from under' the pins IUI.. As Vset'forth above, the upper surface' of the supply 14 is maintained at av constant levelby a series of compensatory vertical movements." The springarms I0'4`are arrangedto yield suflioiently to permit 'such movementstooccur.

If so' desired, a paste belt I01may "be provided to apply a stripe 'of paste |08 (Fig."3)` to the wrappers` alongtheirleading edges I00;. This paste stripeserves to secure theoverlapping edges |00 and |02 together'. 'Ihepasterbelt |01 is'guided over idler pulleys "I08,` I09and` IIO'mountedfor rotation' uponthe'man frame IE-and a driven pulley'III x'edtupon a' shaft II2 mounted-for rotation' in suitable bearings uponu the main frame: A-bevel gear `I I3 isfn'zecl upon the shaft- I I Zand' meshes with*v asimilar bevel 'gear I I 4v xed upon ashaft H5;Y Theshaft II5 is driven from the shaft 25 by means of sprocket wheels I ISA-and' I-I1'-and-a chain I'I8'. Pasteis-supplied to the bel-tfI01 by-a1roll`er II9 maintained infcontact therewith 'andl dipping into arsupply` I 20 iof paste. Doctor:v blades :I 2|` and. I I 22.1 may beprovided to control `the thicknessfof .the paste film carried by.

thelloelt' llandtoolean .thevertical edges of .the

belt'.

It3wil1lltl`1usbe: apparentxthat" the belt |01 is guided,l.paste side;v up, Yoverzthe trailingV edges I 02 of'thes, sheetfsupply.' Asthe-revolution of the rollllduponthe supply 14 iscompleted the leading iedge1|00fofthe sheet on the rollis `pressed into .l contact. with:` the paste bearing, surface of the belt |01. Theztrailing `edge then: slips from beneathV the belt .and is pressedintoi contact the paste: bearingzfedge I 0&1.`

' Station Dxcomprises` atable |23 "off: su'icient extentztoxipermit the ro1lsr|01 tofperform: atleast a .complete revolution thereon under pressure of the belts I1. At this station, the wrapper is again pressed into contact with the stripes of paste upon the roll I and the edges |00 and |02 are again pressed into contact with paste stripe |08. The preliminary drying of the paste which occurs at this station is sufficient to allow the rolls I0 to be discharged from the machine without danger or disarrangement of the wrappers thereon.

The operation of our improved wrapping machine will now be described.

A roll I0 is placed in a pocket II of the feed wheel I2. Rotation of the wheel I2 carries the roll therein to aposition wherein'the roll will gravitate downwardly along the surface I4 and will thus be deposited upon the table I5 in such a position that the belts I1 will engage the upper curved surface of the roll l0 to progress the roll through the machine. As the roll progresses over the table I5, it strikes and depresses the roller 93. A depression of the roller 93 operates, as above described, to elevate the supply 14 a. distance equal to the thickness of a single sheet of the wrapping material comprising such supply. The roll next progresses over the guard plate 58 and drops from this plate to the paste bearing surfaces of the belts 33. As the roll progresses over the belts 38, the stripes of paste are deposited upon the curved surface thereof. In Figures 3 and 4, the peripheral extent ofthe ypaste stripes is indicated diagrammatically by a. curved line P. The roll then progresses over the plate 59. It will be understood that the plates 58 and 59 have been so adjusted relative to one another as to expose an extent of the belts 38 suiflcient to deposite paste stripes of the desired peripheral extent upon the curved surface of the roll I0. After the roll leaves the plate 59,. it is '40 progressed over the table I5 and plate 91 and is then rolled upon the separator 99, 99. As shown in Figure 3, the roll I0 depresses the separator 99, 99 into contact with the leading edge |00 of the uppermost sheet Within the supply 14. The '45 horizontal distance between the exposed surfaces of the belts 38 and the leading edge |00 of the sheet is predetermined by joint adjustment of the plates 58 and 59 and is preferably so selected 50 that the paste stripes indicated at P will contact the leading edge |00 mid-way of their peripheral extent upon the surface of the roll I0. Thus, one-half of the paste stripes may be pressed into contact with the leading portion of ,55 the uppermost sheet rwithin the supply 14,'while the other half of the paste stripes remains, for the present, unused.

As the roll I0 leaves the separator 99, 99, a portion of the paste stripes will be progressively i30 pressed into contact with the leading portion of the sheet. The sheet will adhere to the paste stripes and will be caused to wrap upon the curved surface of the roll l0. As the leading edge |00 of the sheet is lifted from the supply v65 stack 14, it will brush past the edge ofthe separator 99, 99. Sincethe separator 99, 99 tends to spring away from the supply 14, the brushing thereof by the edge |00 will be' so light that there will be no tendency to strip the sheet from '70 the adhesive. If it should occur that more than one sheet tends to wrap upon the roll I0, the brushing of the edges |00 thereof against the separator 99, 99 will serve to return all but the uppermost sheet to the supply stack 14. -The 75 action of the separator 99, 99 is diagrammatically illustrated at Apositions II and III in Figures 3 and 4 respectively.

The roll I0 to which the leading portion of a single sheet has been adhered is then progressed across the supply 14. The length of the sheets 5 within the supply 14 is preferably slightly greater than the circumference of the rolls I0. When sheets of this size arewrapped upon the rolls I0, theedges |00 and |02 will overlap and we prefer to adhesively secure such overlapped l0 edges together. Thus, at position IV in Figure 3, the roll I0 has progressed through a complete revolution and the leading edge |00 of the sheet thereon is pressed into contact with the paste bearing surface of the paste belt |01. A stripe 1.5 of `paste |08 is therefore deposited upon the leading edge |00. As the roll I0 leaves position IV, the trailing edge |02 yof the sheet thereon is withdrawn from beneath the belt |01. The trailing portion of the sheet is therefore in posi- 20 tion to be pressed into contact with the paste stripes indicated at P and the trailing edge |02 is in a position to be pressed into contact with the paste stripe |08 upon the leading edge |00. The roll I0 is then progressed across the table 25 |23 and performs a complete revolution thereupon. This places the roll I0 in the position illustrated atV in Figure 3 wherein the leading and trailing portions |00 and |02 respectively of the Asheet are pressed into contact with the 3o paste stripes indicated at P and the trailing edge |02 is pressed into contact with the paste stripe |08. As discussed above, the preliminary drying of the paste, which will occur as the rolls are progressed from position IV to position V, will 35 be suflicient to'permit of the discharge of the rolls from the machine.

It will be understood that the rolls I0 to which bands or wrappers have been applied, as above set forth, may be conveyed from the discharging station of our machine to a final drying station or to any other apparatus for the further processing thereof.

In Figurev '7, we have diagrammatically illustrated an embodiment of our invention which is particularly adapted for the successive application of an insert or'label and a band or wrapper to a roll. It is frequently desired to apply an insert and then to enclose the roll in a wrapper, which may preferably be made of some transparent material such as Cellophane. In Figure 8, we have shown an insert L applied to roll I0, while in Figure 9, a`roll with an insert attached thereto is shown enclosed in a wrapper.

` Referring now to Figure '7, it may be seen that 55 a roll` |0 is rolled over a guard plate |58, pasteapplying belts |38 and guard plate |59. This paste-applying apparatus is so adjusted as to apply stripes of paste indicated at R of a peripheral extent equal to the peripheral extent of an insert which is to be applied to the roll. The paste-bearing roll I0 is then progressed over a separator |99V similar in all respects to the separator 99, vdescribed above, to a supply 14 of in- 65 serts. 'I'he horizontal distance between the paste-applying belts |38 and the leading edge of the inserts L is sochosen that an end of the paste stripes R coincides with the leading edge of an insert L when the roll I0 is progressed to 10 the supply |14. The roll |0 is then progressed over the supply. |14 where it picks up an insert L, whichY will be adhesively secured to the surface of the roll by the paste stripes R.

The roll I0 then progresses over a guard plate 75 258I and paste-applying belts 238 and a guard plate 259. The horizontal distance between the insert supply |14 and the paste belts 238 is so chosen that paste stripes S are applied to a portion of the horizontal surface of the roll I U which is removed from the insert L. For example, this horizontal distance may be so chosen that the paste stripes S are placed in a position diametrically opposite the paste stripes R. The roll l0 is then progressed over a separator 299 to a supply 214 of Wrappers. The horizontal distance between the paste belts 238 and the leading edge of the wrapper supply 214 may be so chosen that the leading edge of a wrapper W will be contacted by the paste stripes S at a point substantially mid-Way of their peripheral extent. The wrappers W may therefore be applied in substantially the same manner as illustrated in Figure 3. To this end, the rolls I0 are progressed across the supply 214 and into contact with a transversely extending paste-applying belt 291. From the position indicated at the extreme right hand end of Figure 7, the rolls I0 may be progressed through a preliminary drying and discharging station similar in all respects to the station D illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 inclusive.

It will be understood that the supplies |14 and 214 will be arranged to receive compensatory vertical movements in response to the depression of a roller I 93 in substantially the same manner as the supply 14 illustrated in Figure l. It will be further understood that the inserts L may be of any desired size as may be the Wrappers W and that the mechanism illustrated in Figure 7 may be adapted to successively apply a plurality of bands or a band and a label or a wrapper and a label or a plurality of Wrappers.

From the foregoing detailed description of preferred forms of our invention, it may be seen that We have provided mechanism for attaining the objects of our invention hereinbefore enumerated. Variations and modifications may be resorted to Within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, means for applying adhesive to the curved surfaces of a series of cylindrical objects comprising an adhesive bearing member over which said objects are adapted to be rolled, a supply of Wrappers over which said objects are adapted to be rolled, a plurality of individually movable means adapted to overlie portions of said adhesive bearing member, said last named means being adjustable relative to one another to vary the extent of said adhesive bearing member exposed for contact with said objects and being adjustable to vary the distance between the exposed portions of said adhesive bearing member and said supply of wrappers whereby a wrapper Will be picked up by the adhesive on each of said cylindrical objects.

2. In a machine of the class described, means for progressively rolling a series of cylindrical objects along a path, means for applying adhesive to each of said objects While rolling along said path, said last named means comprising a plurality of endless belts extending longitudinally of said path, means for applying adhesive to a surface of each of said belts, means supporting predetermined reaches of said belts in the path of said cylindrical objects, a plurality of individually movable plates adapted to overlie opposite ends of said reaches, said plates being adjustable along the path of said cylindrical objects to vary the extent and location of those portions of said belts exposed for contact with said cylindrical objects.

PAUL BURKE. J OI-IN EDWARD BLOSSER. 

